Carol with her daughter Arabelle, 4, and son Zavier, 8 months. Image: Supplied

Parenting

Mum shares natural remedy to clear a child’s cough

by Leah Goulis, Kidspot

29th Jul 2017 7:30 AM

LIKE so many of us right now (because, winter!), when mum-of-two Carol Heaton's 8-month-old son fell sick with a horrible cold, she felt she had tried everything, but nothing was clearing up the bug.

"When we were on holidays visiting family in Canada my son Zavier got really sick. He had an ear infection for which he was taking antibiotics and was terribly congested and coughing," she tells Kidspot.

"I tried putting a baby balm on his chest, keeping him hydrated and used a saline spray for his nose. There is not much out there you can give a young baby for the common cold."

Feeling helpless and desperate for an instant cure, when a family member mentioned an old-school home remedy using only natural ingredients, she decided to give it a crack.

"My family insisted on me trying this old remedy on him - an onion sugar cough syrup. It has been used in my family for many years, my mum used to give this to us when we were kids. I was desperate to help him feel better and for some sleep myself."

Within hours of giving little Zavier the syrup, Carol reveals the little guy was bringing up phlegm, which ultimately eased his congestion in his chest.

"He was sleeping better at night and the coughing started to ease too. To say I was amazed would be an understatement. Wow, something that actually works," she says.

"It's a great recipe because it's easy to do, two ingredients which you have sitting in your pantry or fridge. It's quick acting and all natural. And the most important part is that it actually works."

The remedy to replace all remedies: Here's how to make the "Onion Sugar Syrup"

Cut the onion into large slices, sprinkle the sugar over the onions. Let this sit on a small plate or a small bowl for a few hours until you see the juice from the onion start to collect at the bottom of the plate. Give a spoonful to the child every hour, it has a nice sweet taste which babies love. It is best to make this syrup fresh every day and store in the fridge.

Why this works?

Onion is a natural expectorant and can help to rid the lungs of congestion by thinning out secretions. It has long been used as a natural cold remedy. Not to mention the other added benefits of onions as an immune booster as it contains both vitamin c and phytochemicals, which increase the effectiveness of vitamin c in your body.

If you're concerned about your child's health or are interested in trying a natural home remedy, speak to your local GP first.